Illuminated toy



y 1953 s. c. KOLINTZAS 2,841,922

ILLUMINATED TOY Filed Oct. 3, 1956 Z6 INVENTOR.

Lfi o a/ue Cjfal irzfzw United States Patent ILLUMINATED TOY Sophie C. Kolintzas, Gary, Ind.

Application October 3, 1956, Serial No. 613,656 4 Claims. (Cl. 46-228) The present invention relates to a novel toy, and more particularly to a novel illuminated toy.

A toy of the type contemplated herein includes central body or disk means and string means connected to and extending from opposite sides of the body means in the manner such that when the string means is twisted and then pulled taut, it will tend to untwist and thereby turn or spin the disk means. It is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel toy of the type just described which is illuminated by electrical light means so as to enhance the pleasing effect and enjoyment of the toy.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel toy of the above described type wherein the electrical illuminating means is energized only in response to manipulation of the toy so as to prevent discharging of the power source of the illuminating means whenever the toy is not in use and thereby promote a long working life for the power source.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel toy of the above described type wherein the illuminating meansis energized intermittently during manipulation of the toy so as to provide an even more unusual and pleasing illuminating efiect and also to extend further the useful life of the illuminating means power source.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel toy of the above described type which is of simple and economical construction so as to facilitate production thereof and also so as to enable certain parts thereof to be easily replaced after they have been worn out.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a toy incorporating features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but showing how the toy is manipulated to energize the illuminating means; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 55 in Fig. 4.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a toy incorporating the features of the present invention comprises central body or disk means 12 and a pair of string means 14 and 16 connected to the body and extending from opposite sides thereof. In the embodiment illustrated, the body means includes a pair of disk means 18 and 20 secured by screws 22 to a spacing flange 24 of a central hub member 26 which also has a central web 28. The disk members 18 and 20 are respectively provided with relatively large central apertures 30 and 32 through which the string means 14 and 16 extend.

The string means 14 is provided by a pair of string sections 34 and 36 having their outer ends tied or otherwise secured together and preferably to a finger ring 38 and having their inner ends connected to the hub member web 28 at points 40 and 42 disposed diametrically oppositely from each other radially outwardly from the central or rotational axis of the disk means. In the embodiment shown, the inner ends of the string sections 34 and 36 extend through apertures in the hub web 28 at the areas 40 and 42, and the inner ends of these string sections are integrally connected. The string means 16 is identical to but oppositely disposed from the string means 14 and, thus, includes string sections 44 and 46 having their outer ends connected to a finger ring 48 and having their inner ends extending through the apertures at 40 and 42 and integrally connected. It is to be understood that flexible elements forrned from any suitable material may be used for providing the string means.

In accordance with an important feature of the present invention, electrical illuminating means is carried by the body or disk means 12. The illuminating means comprises a metal socket member 50 which is riveted or otherwise secured to the disk member 20 as indicated at 52 and 54 and which is internally threaded or otherwise adapted for receiving and making electrical contact with alight bulb 56. It is to be understood that the light bulb 56 may be of any various known constructions and, for example, may be of the type commonly used in flashlights. Spring clips 58, 60 and 62 are spaced around and riveted or otherwise secured to the disk member 20 for receiving and securely retaining electrical batteries 64, 66 and 68. The clip members and batteries are preferably located so that the disk means will be substantially dynamically balanced. An electrical contact member 70 is secured to the disk member between the socket 50 and the clip 58 and is provided with generally oppositely extending spring fingers 72 and 74 respectively for making contact with the light bulb and with one end of the battery 64. Another contact member secured to the disk 20 between the clips 58 and 69 is provided with spring fingers 78 and 80 respectively for contacting adjacent ends of the batteries 64 and 66. Still another contact member 82 similar to the member 76 is located so that spring fingers 84 and 86 thereof respectively contact ends of the batteries 66 and 68. An opposite end of the battery 68 is contacted by a spring finger 88 which is also riveted or otherwise secured to the disk member 26.

Wires 90 and 92 are electrically connected to the socket member 50 and to the spring finger 88 and also to contact elements 94 and 96 of a switch structure which are constructed and arranged so that the switch will be closed and the light bulb will be energized only during manipulation of the toy. In the preferred embodiment disclosed herein, the switch elements 94 and 96 are in the form of coil springs respectively having ends thereof soldered or otherwise secured to tabs 98 and 1% which are riveted to the web portion 28 of the hub member. The springs are normally disposed as shown best in Fig. 3 so that they are axially aligned respectively with the apertures at 40 and 42, and inner end portions of the strings 34 and 36 extend through the springs. With this arrangement the switch elements 94 and 96 are normally spread apart so that the electrical circuit is open. However, when the string sections 34 and 36' are twisted together as shown best in Figs. 4 and 5 the switch elements are brought into contact with each other so that the light bulb is energized. With the electrical means thus far described, it will be appreciated that the string elements and disk means should be made from electrical insulating material, but it is contemplated that at least the disk means could be made from metal, in

Patented July 8, 1958 3 which case the elements of the electrical circuit would be insulated suitably from the disk means.

While it is believed that the operation of the toy 10 will be apparent, a short description of the manner in which the toy is manipulated Will now be given. Normally, when the toy is not in use, the string means 14 and 16 will be slack and Substantially untwisted or, at most, only loosely twisted so that the spring switch elements 94 and 96 are opened substantially as shown in Fig. 3. Then the rings 38 and 43 are grasped by the operator and with the string means at least partiaiiy slack,

the operator whirls the central body around so as to effect twisting of the string means 14 and 16. Then by alternately pulling the string means taut and slackening the string means, the central body will spin rapidly first in one direction'and then the other and the string means will be twisted first in one direction and then the other, as will be understood. It will be appreciated that each time the stringmeans 14 becomes substantially untwisted during spinning of the disk means 12 in opposite directions, the switch spring elements will open to deenergize the light bulb. Of course, each time the string sections 34 and 36 are twisted together during spinning of the body member, the switch elements will close.

It will be appreciated that after the toy has been operated for a considerable length of time, the batteries may become worn out and the strings may also become Worn. The arrangement of the battery clips and the contact elements associated therewith enables the batteries to be replaced quickly and easily. The strings may also be easily replaced merely by threading new strings through the openings at 44) and 42 and, when necessary, threading the new string through the switch spring elements 94 and 96. a

While the preferrred embodiment has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the toy may be provided with any desired number of additional light bulbs and any suitable number of batteries. Furthermore, the helical spring switch elements 94 and 96 while being preferred and having advantages mentioned above could be replaced by various flexible elements that are connectable to or shiftable in response to twisting action of the string sections 34 and 36.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A toy of the type described comprising rotatable body means, pairs of string sections respectively extending from opposite sides of said body means and respectively having interconnected outer end portions and inner end portions connected to said body means in radially spaced relationship, said pairs of string sections being twistable for rotating said body means, and electrical illuminating means on said body means and inctuding normally open switch elements respectively moveable with said inner end portions of one of said pairs of string sections for contacting each other and energizing said illuminating means when said one pair of string sections are twisted about each other, said switch elements being elongated hollow flexible elements through which said inner end portions of said one pair of said string sections extend. a

2. A toy, as defined in claim 1, wherein saidilluminating means includes a socket member for receiving and retaining a light bulb, means for detachably retaining a battery, and spring elements secured to said body means for connecting'in series a bulb in said socket member and battery means held in said battery retaining means.

3. A toy, as defined in 'claim 1, wherein said illuminating means includes a socket member for retaining a light v bulb, and a plurality of battery retaining means spaced around said body means for substantially dynamically balancing said body means.

4. A toy,'as defined. in claim 1, wherein said elongated hollow flexible switch elements are helically coiled wire spring members.

References Cited in the file of this "patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 1,376,166 Rosenberg Q Apr. 26, 1921 2,208,697 'Kernodle ct a1. ..'July 23, '1940' 2,226,195 Buben Dec. 24, 1940 2,739,419 Cleveland Mar. 27, 1 956 FOREIGN PATENTS 703,781 Great Britain 1954 

